archivebackupemailmail.app
I'm using Mail.app + IMAP email accounts for my email. I want to be able to archive all my email and make them searchable.
Currently I copy the previous month's email from my IMAP folders to local folders called 2010, 2011, etc. However I don't copy my Sent email, so I'm wondering what's the best way to archive them as well. Any suggestions? Please share!
I'd like a method that doesn't involve Gmail if possible, as I'm not a big fan of the company and the service.
You will want to make a new mailbox with storage only on the Mac or use the Archive function in Mail to archive an entire folder/mailbox.
The built in help will guide you through the Archive path.
I just make folders "On My Mac" with the year, and then make Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 folders inside to keep each relatively small - you might only need one folder per year or one folder.
Once you move the message and are comfortable that it's on your mac with attachments intact, delete the original message from IMAP and your quotas will be happier.
I have an iMac (Mountain Lion.) I couldn't edit any of my drafts. I finally found that all I had to do was click FORWARD and then when the email comes on the screen I can edit. (Too bad extra steps have to be taken, though.)
Best Answer
I use Mail app's "smart mailboxes" instead of copying and moving the actual messages in Mail. For example, to archive July 2011:
After this you have the option of keeping the smart folder or deleting it. Spotlight (in OS 10.6.8) searches the .mbox archives Mail produces, so your archive remains searchable.